I had a professor in college who liked the word “present,” and who insisted that we use that word, and only that word, when answering in roll call.

So it went like this:
“DiCamillo?”
“Yep.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Here! I mean: present!”

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently, because “present” is what I want to be. I don’t want to be wishing myself someplace else. I don’t want to be waiting for something, counting the minutes until one thing is over, or another thing begins. I want to see and hear and feel where I am.

So these days, what do is take roll call with myself.
“DiCamillo?” I ask myself.
“Present!” I answer myself.
Present, present. I’m present. Here.

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